KBB.com Consumer Reviews

Overall4.5Out of 5

Excellent for the price!

By Spitball Dave | on Saturday, June 03, 2017

5.0

In the 80s, I bought a 1987 Chevy Sprint 3 cyl. That care served me well as a young single Soldier. Five years later, I upgraded to Saturn after marriage and the birth of my 1st child. Thirty years later, and no more children in the house, I downsized my personal car to a 2017 Chevy Spark. My family named it the Spitball. I average 35 mpg city and 44 highway (47 with A/C off). Like the Sprint, I love the 5-speed manual transmission. The mileage in only slightly less than my Sprint of 30 years ago. Im 6ft, 1in still, and now 185 (30 lb heavier from the 80s) and I fit comfortably in it for short road trips and getting 95% of my errands done around town. Unlike the Sprint, I now have intermittent wipers, a rear window defogger and wiper, a sound system, 10 airbags, ABS, Stabilitrack, traction control, digital readouts, fuel injection, a 4th cylinder, exactly twice the horsepower, 2 more doors, automatic front headlights, 15 in tires (vs 12 in), and more. I got all of this for 10,083 out-the-door after dealer incentives and a military discount. Plus, other customers let is sit on the lot for several months - no one under 45 knows how to drive a manual transmission any longer, it seems. Also, I have to roll the windows by hand. The car is small so there is no issue there. What a bargain for me!…

Good Value

By Dr. Richard Thorndyke | on Saturday, February 10, 2018

4.0

Ive had my Spark over three years now and I thought I would give a review. Overall, there are more pros than cons. And even the cons are not a big deal. So, overall, its a great value for the money and I like this car very much. Lets bullet list!
Pros:
Great gas mileage
Easy maintenance
Reliability
Well build/quality
Cons:
No HP
Comfort
Little slippery on Ice and snow
Frills
The Spark gets great gas mileage, but if you want to get really really good gas mileage Ive found is to change the air filter every time you change the oil. The maintenance was easy because I got this lube 4 life thing when I bought the car, so all oil changes are free as long as the car is in my name. Its had a couple of recalls but nothing major. Mind you, Ive never had a problem with this car since I bought it. Nada. Nothing. Not even a headlight out.
The cons are small. The engine will not wow you, but I commute so I barely ever get above 50 mph anyways so who cares. The seats are ok, but on long trips it can get a little uncomfortable. It has no frills, but if you sign up to Onstar you can stream music, or from your phone. No CD player. And, if you get the Onstar the car is a Wifi hotspot and can accommodate up to 7 devices. I dont, i just listen to the radio. Ive driven it in the snow/ice a few times and it does have a tendency to fishtail, but to be fair i didnt have stud or snow tires, and I made it there and back anyways, but just an observation.
Its a lot of car for the money and I would buy another one.…

Great For High Mileage, Cool Tech, Tight Parking!

By illiniwatcher | on Wednesday, January 04, 2017

5.0

I am a simple kind of guy, and my goal with getting another vehicle was very simple – get a new vehicle at a reasonably low price. Happily, the 2017 Spark is simple in all the ways I like – I got the base LS model because I’m not a fan of power anything (power stuff breaks first). The only “power” options I wanted and got on the Spark were power steering and an automatic transmission.
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The most common descriptor my friends use for the Spark is “cute.” It’s quite a small vehicle, but it’s one I have no problem fitting my 5’ 11”, 230-pound frame into. The seats, while not easy-chair material, are sufficiently comfortable.
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The Spark is good with mirrors and window space – blind spots on either side of the car have been kept to a minimum. The rear-view mirror inside the cabin could be a little wider, but it’s adequate. And the rear window is wide enough to monitor tailgaters.
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Internal storage space, as has been widely written about, isn’t very much, but you can fold the rear seats down for additional space. It also has two rear doors which might be suitable for loading large items as well as associates.
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Much has also been written about the Spark’s 98-horsepower engine and that it takes 10 seconds to get to 60 mph. I have not found it to be a problem. I would not call it underpowered at all. If you’re an angry, pushy driver who loves to tailgate others, the Spark will exhaust your patience. But if you’re a judicious, considerate driver, the Spark’s acceleration won’t be an issue for you.
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I was a little surprised to find out the Spark has a 9.2-gallon tank – the smallest in any vehicle I’ve ever owned, but that’s offset by its high-rated fuel mileage of 38mpg (highway) and up. If you do the math, that’s a cruising range of at least 340 miles. This is not a “touring” car, but for 180- to 250-mile trips that I take on occasion, I’m confident the Spark can handle the pull.
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The deal clincher for me was under the hood – the EcoTec engine, this one a 1.4-liter jobbie – is the centerpiece of the Spark. I became a huge fan of EcoTec with my last car which lasted over 296,000 miles with that original engine. Unlike the Fiat 500, you can use 87 octane fuel with the Spark.
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Compared with what I’ve read about similar subcompacts, the Spark’s instrument panel and dash are welcomingly simple and very nicely designed. No screen is too “busy”. If you have an Android or iPhone smartphone, you can plug either device into the USB jack and access music and certain mobile apps from those devices on the touch-screen display.
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The semi-digital dash on the base model is the carries a nice amount of information including mpg, miles to empty, and average speed. The 1LT and 2LT models are supposed to be even better on this point.
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The radio does NOT pick up HD channels (at least not in the base model), so get your premium stations thru your Bluetooth enabled smartphone and apps like Sirius XM or Pandora.
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The Spark includes several modern conveniences and safety features such as a rear backup camera and the MyChevy touch-screen control system with Bluetooth. You get a 3-month trial of OnStar remote monitoring and assistance free, too, as well as built-in 4G wi-fi service you can add on for as little as $10 a month (1 GB). Automatic lights, cup holders, and too many other features to include in this short review.
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The Spark is a good, simple little car that has in reviews been compared favorably in specific ways to the pricier Honda Fit, the trendy Fiat 500, the practical Nissan Versa, and the equally reliable Toyota Yaris. The Spark stands out, though, for its integrated OnStar service and onboard technology.
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If you’re in a precarious situation with savings or credit score, and you need basic transportation, you’ll like the Spark a lot. If you’re a road hog, or a gearhead, look elsewhere. The Spark is most certainly not a ride for hipsters (unless they’re driving it ironically).
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For its high fuel mileage, its maneuverability in tight parking spaces, its safety features, and its integrated smartphone technology, not to mention its low price relative to other vehicles in its class, the Spark earns its overall 9 out of 10 rating. Having just gotten the car a week ago, I didn't choose to rate Quality or Reliability, although what I've read about the 2016 version - which was redesigned - this car should do quite well in both those departments. Just a few things keep it from being an absolutely perfect subcompact, but no one has made one of those yet!
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Take a test drive! You’ll love it!…

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